the National Colleges will deliver high-level technical training to thousands of learners across England

the Colleges will support the delivery of major infrastructure projects like HS2 and New Nuclear

all part of government’s plan to deliver the skilled workforce of the future and abolish long-term youth unemployment

High-level, specialist skills were given a boost today (9 May 2016) as the government announced details of nearly £80 million in funding to support the creation of 5 new National Colleges.

The centres of high-tech training will ensure the UK has skilled people in industries crucial to economic growth – high speed rail, nuclear, onshore oil and gas, digital skills and the creative industries.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said:

This is the investment in high-tech skills that businesses are crying out for. We have made it a priority to work with employers to deliver high-quality, technical education and clear routes to employment that deliver economic growth and create opportunities for our young people, and enable our existing workforce to upskill and retrain for the jobs of the future.

The National Colleges have been designed with employers, for employers. They will produce the skills needed now and into the future to ensure the UK remains innovative and at the forefront of pioneering industry.

The 5 National Colleges are as follows:

National College for High Speed Rail (hubs located in Birmingham and Doncaster)

National College for Nuclear (hubs located Somerset and Cumbria)

National College for Onshore Oil and Gas (hub located in Blackpool)

National College for Digital Skills (hub located in London; Tottenham Hale and Whitechapel)

National College for the Creative and Cultural Industries (hub located in Purfleet, Essex)

The Colleges, which were confirmed in the Spending Review, have had to pass a detailed examination of their business plans and capital proposals to receive government funding which will help with the construction of new buildings and the purchase of equipment. Local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP), industry bodies and businesses are also contributing towards the Colleges.

Development of the Colleges is firmly underway. The National College for High Speed Rail held ground breaking ceremonies at its Doncaster and Birmingham sites earlier today.

The first Colleges will open in September 2016 with the network fully operational by September 2017.

Notes to Editors:

The National Colleges will focus on delivering high-level technical skills at levels 4 to 6.

The National College for Digital Skills and the National College for the Creative and Cultural Industries will open in September 2016. The National College for High Speed Rail, the National College for Onshore Oil and Gas and the National College for Nuclear will open in September 2017.

The National College for High Speed Rail will receive £40 million from BIS for the construction of new buildings and equipment. Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield Combined Authority and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP are providing £6 million each and industry is donating approximately £5 million in equipment.

The National College for Nuclear will receive £15 million from BIS for the construction of new buildings and equipment. The South West LEP is providing £3 million and Bridgwater College is providing £4.5 million.

The National College for Digital Skills will receive £13.4 million from BIS for refurbishment and equipment. The Greater London Authority (GLA) and the London Enterprise Panel is providing £18.2 million.

The National College for the Creative and Cultural Industries will receive £5.5 million from BIS for the construction of new buildings. £500,000 will be provided by Creative and Cultural Skills and industry is donating approximately £1 million in equipment.

The National College for Onshore Oil and Gas will receive £5.6 million from BIS for equipment, with equipment donations from industry.